Yesterday I stayed late with campaign staffers to respond to the news that US Representative Joe Barton had apologized after graphic photos of him were released online. You can read my statement in response here.

Our district was thrown into the national spotlight, but not for the reasons we want. Our district is populated by good people who build their lives here—despite three decades of poor representation from Joe Barton.

That was yesterday. This is today.

Today is a day of thanksgiving and I have much to be thankful for.

I am thankful for the excellent public school teachers I had right here in District 6, in the towns of Maypearl, Midlothian, and Waxahachie. Those teachers’ guidance allowed me to succeed academically and go on to a four-year university. I promise to fight for public schools and get them the resources they need.

I am thankful for the financial aid I received, which made it possible for the granddaughter of migrant workers to graduate from Rice University and perhaps to represent her home district—a dream my grandparents Lonjino ad Iris Sanchez never even had. I promise to fight for students, who need financial help to make it through education, which has never been more expensive.

I am thankful for the time I spent working for brave, committed democrats like Lt. Gov. Leo McCarthy and US Congressman John Garamendi, who believed that reaching across the aisle is not just something you say; it’s something you believe and you do every single day because you work for the people and they deserve the best. I promise to stay true to my commitment to work with anyone who has a good idea and the ability to see it through.

I am thankful for the decade I spent working in the press (starting at the Baltimore Sun and ending at Reuters in Amsterdam), where I learned that democracy cannot function without a free and open society, and where elected officials answer the questions and concerns of the people they were elected to represent. I promise to be honest with my constituents and represent their interests, not my own.

I am thankful for the opportunity I had to co-run a business, which taught me that the small businesses that employ so many people in my district are the bedrock of a thriving economy. I promise to defend small businesses.

I am thankful for the groundswell of support that leaders across the country have seen in the wake of the 2016 election to return to the values this country was built on: a country where it really is possible for a little girl from a small town to be the first in her family to graduate from college, to run for office and maybe—just maybe—to be the first Latina elected to congress from Texas. I promise that I will be an advocate for women and people of color, who need to know that their place is wherever they want it to be—in my case, in the US House of Representatives.

Finally, I am thankful for each of my supporters, and for all the ways they have supported this campaign. This includes the supporters who have made contributions ranging from $1 to the maximum allowed $2700, who have helped us reach over 4000 voters in the district by knocking on doors, who have made phone calls on my behalf, who have spread the word online and in person, who believe in this campaign and without whom this grassroots effort would not be possible. These supporters have shown up and reminded me that there are thousands and millions of people willing to do the hard work democracy requires. I promise to keep working as hard as you do.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) polling shows that some districts that Trump won by 10 points are now likely to swing as much as 10 points to Democrats. With the right candidate, this district could be one of the targeted 60-80 seats the DCCC invests in in 2018.

I am that candidate. I’m proud of the successes that the campaign has had so far, but my eyes are set on the future. As Congresswoman, I will work hard for my home district. Throughout this campaign I have learned so much about what keeps my neighbors up at night. I promise to keep asking questions and listening –not just now but in the years to come.

Jana Lynne Sanchez

Note: If you’re just hearing about my campaign now, welcome. I started this campaign a year ago because I care about my home district, and that hasn’t changed. I want to continue to run this campaign on the issues that matter to my neighbors in District 6. Those issues include:

-Quality, affordable healthcare for everyone
-Excellent public schools
-Great jobs for high school graduates, who make up 70% of the people in this District

If you’re a supporter already, now is the time to step up. Our campaign has raised more money than any previous Democratic challenger, but we are losing steam. The New York Times points out we don’t have as much cash on hand as we’ll need to get elected. Please donate what you can.